NEW ZEALAND CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION Omeprazole modified release capsules 10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg What is in this leaflet This leaflet answers some of the common questions about OMEZOL It does not contain all the information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist. All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor will have weighed the risks of you taking against the benefits they expect it will have for you. If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again. What OMEZOL RELIEF is used for is used to treat the following conditions: Reflux Oesophagitis is used to treat the symptoms of reflux oesophagitis or reflux disease in adults and in children. This can be caused by "washing back" (reflux) of food and acid from the stomach into the food pipe also known as the oesophagus. Reflux can cause a burning sensation in the chest rising up to the throat, also known as heartburn, which usually occurs after eating or at night and which worsens when bending over. is also used to help stop reflux oesophagitis coming back or relapsing. Acid-Related Dyspepsia is used to treat acid-related dyspepsia. Dyspepsia is an uncomfortable feeling in the stomach or belching after eating. It is also known as indigestion. Peptic Ulcers is used to treat peptic ulcers. Depending on the position of the ulcer it is called a gastric or duodenal ulcer. A gastric ulcer occurs in the stomach. A duodenal ulcer occurs in the duodenum which is the tube leading out from the stomach. These ulcers can be caused by too much acid being made in the stomach. They can cause pain and discomfort (indigestion) which is felt between the naval and the breast bone. is also used to help stop gastric or duodenal ulcers coming back. Peptic Ulcers Associated with Helicobacter pylori Infection Most people who have a peptic ulcer also have bacteria called Helicobacter pylori in their stomach. When is taken with antibiotics, they will kill Helicobacter pylori and let your peptic ulcer heal. When OMEZOL RELIEF is taken together with two antibiotics, they are more effective than taken one or two at a time. It is possible that the antibiotics may not always kill Helicobacter pylori. You may need further treatment. Peptic Ulcers Associated with Non-steroidal Anti- Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) Some peptic ulcers are caused by taking medicines called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). These medicines are commonly taken to relieve pain, swelling and other symptoms of inflammation, including arthritis. is also used to heal and prevent ulcers associated with NSAIDs. Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome is also used to treat a rare condition called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, where the stomach produces large amounts of acid, much more than in ulcers or reflux disease. How OMEZOL RELIEF works contains the active ingredient omeprazole, which belongs to a group of medicines called proton pump inhibitors. works by decreasing the amount of acid made by the stomach, to give relief of symptoms and allow healing to take place. This does not stop food being digested in the normal way. Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you. Your doctor may have prescribed it for another reason. This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription. Page 1 of 5
This medicine is not expected to affect your ability to drive a car or operate machinery. Before you take When you must not take it Do not use if you have an allergy to: any medicine containing omeprazole any of the ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include: shortness of breath; wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin. Do not take after the expiry date printed on the label or if the packaging shows signs of tampering. If it has expired or is damaged, return it to your pharmacist for disposal. If you are not sure whether you should start taking this medicine, talk to your doctor. Before you start to take it Tell your doctor if: you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed you have or have had liver disease or liver problems you have or have had any medical conditions you have any allergies to any other medicines or any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes. If you have not told your doctor of any of the above, tell him/her before you start taking OMEZOL Taking other medicines Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any that you get without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop. Some medicines and OMEZOL RELIEF may interfere with each other. These include: phenytoin or carbamazepine (medicines used to treat epilepsy) warfarin, clopidogrel or vitamin K antagonists (medicines used to treat or prevent blood clots) diazepam (a medicine used to treat anxiety or tension) ketoconazole, itraconazole or voriconazole (medicines used to treat fungal infections) cilostazol (a medicine used to treat intermittent claudication) clarithromycin or rifampicin (antibiotics) atazanavir, nelfinavir or saquinavir (antiretroviral medicines used to treat HIV) tacrolimus (an immunosuppressant used in organ transplants) digoxin (a medicine used to treat various heart conditions) St John s Wort (a herbal remedy taken for depression) citalopram and escitalopram (medicines used to treat depression) clozapine (a medicine used to treat schizophrenia) methotrexate (a medicine used to treat some cancers and psoriasis) other medicines that you buy at the chemist, supermarket or health food shop. These medicines may be affected by or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines. Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while taking this medicine. How to take Follow all directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet If you do not understand the instructions on the bottle ask your doctor or pharmacist for help. How much to take Take capsules as instructed by your doctor. Adults The usual doses of OMEZOL RELIEF can vary from 10 mg to 40 mg daily, but can be higher. The dose is dependant on the condition being treated and how severe it is. Maintenance therapy is usually at a lower dose than the initial treatment. Children The recommended dose in children with severe reflux oesophagitis is 10 mg once a day in children weighing 10-20 kg and 20 mg in children weighing more than 20 kg. The dosage may be increased if needed. How to take it Swallow capsules whole with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew. If you have trouble swallowing capsules, open the capsule over an empty glass or cup and swallow the pellets with half a glass of liquid, or mix the pellets in a slightly acidic fluid e.g. fruit juice, yoghurt or non carbonated water and take within 30 minutes. You can also suck the capsule until it opens (1-2 minutes) and swallow the pellets with liquid. Do not crush or chew the Page 2 of 5
capsules or the pellets. If the pellets in the capsules are chewed or crushed they will not work properly. When to take it Take at the same time each day in the morning. Taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it. It does not matter whether you take with food or on an empty stomach. How long to take it Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you. This medicine helps to treat your condition and where it does not cure it, it helps to control it. It is important to keep taking your medicine even if you feel well. If you forget to take it If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking it as you would normally. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next dose when you are meant to. Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed. If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints. If you take too much (overdose) Immediately telephone your doctor or the National Poisons Information Centre (0800 POISON or 0800 764 766) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. You may need urgent medical attention. While you are taking Things you must do If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking. Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who treat you that you are taking. If you are about to have any blood tests, tell your doctor that you are taking this medicine. It may interfere with the results of some tests. Keep all of your doctor s appointments so that your progress can be checked. Your doctor may do some tests (such as blood tests) from time to time to make sure the medicine is working and to prevent unwanted side effects. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant or intend to breastfeed while you are taking OMEZOL can be taken during pregnancy as studies have shown that there is no adverse effect on the pregnancy or the health of the unborn or newborn baby. Although appears in breast milk it is unlikely that there will be any effect on a nursing infant when taken at the recommended doses. Things you must not do Do not take to treat any other complaints unless your doctor tells you to. Do not give your medicine to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you. Do not stop taking your medicine or change the dosage without checking with your doctor. Things that may help your condition Some self help measures suggested below may help your condition. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about these measures and for more information. Alcohol - your doctor may advise you to limit your alcohol intake. Aspirin and many other medicines used to treat arthritis/period pain/headaches - these medicines may irritate the stomach and may make your condition worse. Your doctor or pharmacist may suggest other medicines you can take. Caffeine - your doctor may advise you to limit the number of drinks which contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea, cocoa and cola drinks, because they contain ingredients that may irritate your stomach. Eating habits - eat smaller, more frequent meals. Eat slowly and chew your food carefully. Try not to rush at meal times. Smoking - your doctor may advise you to stop smoking or at least cut down. Weight - your doctor may suggest losing some weight to help your condition. Side effects Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking. helps most people with stomach or duodenal ulcers, acid related dyspepsia, reflux disease or Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects. Page 3 of 5
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have. If you are on for more than three months it is possible that the levels of magnesium in your blood may fall. Low levels of magnesium can be seen as fatigue, involuntary muscle spam or twitching, disorientation, convulsions, dizziness, increased heart rate. If you get any of these symptoms, please tell your doctor promptly. Low levels of magnesium can also lead to a reduction in potassium or calcium levels in the blood. Your doctor may decide to perform regular blood tests to monitor your levels of magnesium. Taking a medicine like OMEZOL RELIEF, especially over a period of more than one year, may slightly increase your risk of fracture in the hip, wrist or spine. Tell your doctor if you have osteoporosis or if you are taking corticosteroid medicine (which can increase the risk of osteoporosis). Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you: diarrhoea, wind (flatulence) or constipation nausea and/or vomiting dry mouth blurred vision altered taste increased sweating headache and/or dizziness "pins and needles" (tingling or numbness of the hands and feet) changes in sleep patterns breast enlargement in men unusual hair thinning or loss. The above list includes the more common side effects of OMEZOL Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you notice any of the following: stomach pain or discomfort skin rash, itching muscle pain or weakness, joint pain spasm or twitching of the muscles, particularly in the face, feet and hands (tetany) changes in mood hallucinations or confusion bleeding or bruising more easily than normal, nose bleeds yellowing of the skin and eyes and dark coloured urine frequent infections such as fever, severe chills, sore throat or mouth ulcers. The above list includes less common side effects some of which may require medical attention. Serious side effects are rare. Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital if any of the following occurs: severe skin reaction which may include redness, blistering and peeling of the skin, accompanied by fever and chills, aching muscles red scaly patches or ringshaped lesions on chest, neck and upper back ulcers, blisters or bleeding of the lips, eyes, mouth, nose and genitals swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing shaking, tremor or seizure change in the way the heart beats or change in the speed or rhythm of the heart beat impaired consciousness, memory loss, personality change, stupor and coma. The above list includes very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation. Tell your doctor if you think you have any of these effects or notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Some people may get other side effects while taking OMEZOL Other problems may arise from the condition being treated rather than the treatment. For this reason, contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following: pain or indigestion occurs during treatment with you begin to vomit blood or food you pass black (bloodstained) motions. After taking Storage Keep your capsules in the bottle with the lid tightly closed until it is time to take them. If you take out of the bottle they may not keep well. Keep your capsules in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 25 C. Do not store or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines. Do not use after the expiry date printed on the label. Keep your medicines where children cannot reach them. A locked cupboard at least one and a half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines. Disposal If your doctor tells you to stop taking or the capsules have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any capsules you have left over. Product description What looks like Page 4 of 5
10 mg: Hard gelatin capsule with an opaque light pink cap and opaque white body containing white to off white pellets. The capsule is printed with MYLAN over OM 10. 20 mg: Hard gelatin capsule with an opaque dark pink cap and opaque white body containing white to off white pellets. The capsule is printed with MYLAN over OM 20. 40 mg: Hard gelatin capsule with an opaque dark pink cap and body containing white to off-white pellets. The capsule is printed with MYLAN over OM 40. Who supplies this medicine Distributed in New Zealand by: Mylan New Zealand Ltd, PO Box 11183, Ellerslie, Auckland. Telephone: (09) 579 2792 Date of Information 4 April 2016 (Based on data sheet dated 4 April 2016) Ingredients Each capsule contains omeprazole 10, 20 or 40 mg as the active ingredient plus: Gelatin Sodium lauryl sulfate Hypromellose Methacrylic acid ethyl acrylate copolymer Purified talc Sodium hydroxide Polysorbate 80 Macrogol Base pellets (made of sucrose, corn starch and water) Titanium dioxide (E171) TekPrint SW-9008 Black Ink. Only present in the 10 mg and 20 mg capsule shells: Red iron oxide (E172). Only present in the 20 mg capsule shells: Black iron oxide. Only present in the 40 mg capsule shells: Brilliant Blue (E133) Allura Red (E129) Sunset Yellow (E110). is supplied as capsules of enteric-coated pellets in bottles of 90 capsules. does not contain lactose or gluten. Page 5 of 5